The Rudolf Augstein Foundation is a non-profit and independent foundation under civil law. We commemorate one of the most important German journalists of the 20th century; through our foundation’s work, the concerns that motivated our namesake and thought leader Rudolf Augstein can continue to be addressed into the future.
We do this by encouraging critical and independent journalism, improving the starting and development opportunities of disadvantaged children and young people, and enabling artistic experiments.
20 Years of Grantmaking: Impact Beyond the Present
Since 2006, the Rudolf Augstein Stiftung has been committed to independent journalism, improved opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people, and artistic experimentation. Over the past twenty years, much has been created, while the fragility of press freedom, social participation, and cultural openness has become increasingly apparent. Our anniversary is therefore more than an occasion to look back. We see it as a moment of reflection on what has truly made an impact, where we have been able to act as a catalyst, and which responses are needed today in the face of media capture, growing social inequality, and increasing pressure on social dialogue. In 2026, we invite you to join this reflection. On LinkedIn, we share formative projects, committed partners, and key lessons learned, while looking ahead to the future of our grantmaking.
Our Mentoring Program re:balance Enters Its Third Round
“Progress is being made, but there is still a lot to be done,” concludes the German Cultural Council in its latest report on gender equality in culture and media. For us, this is a strong motivation to continue our initiative re:balance – Gender Equality in the Arts, which we launched in 2022. Because in the arts sector, career paths are shaped not only by talent and the quality of one’s work, but also by visibility, networks, and access to decision-makers. This is exactly where our mentoring program comes in. The third mentoring round will run from September 2026 to April 2027. The application phase begins on March 16 and ends on April 19.
